I am going to tell you a story of a nerd, an introvert, and a punching bag of social norms. That nerd is me. After finishing high school and entering university, I reflected on my time at school and pitied the young girl I was back then. Sounds sad? Well it isn't because I now realize that those experiences have helped to mould me into the person I am today. As a young girl, in my primary school years, I was a loud, energetic, and often naughty child. I would climb things, jump on things, laugh a lot, and smile constantly. I was often rejected or ignored, people call it bullying, even back then but my naivety and ability to lose myself in my own world made me oblivious to it all and protected me for a time. My mind was my playground and what others did or said didn't matter. As I grew I began to lose that naivety, started to notice the goings on around me. That is when life for me began to change. In high school, at first I was the girl who would make friends quickly. Some may say that is a good thing, in a sense I think it is too, but I gave away my trust too easily. I was caught up in cliques with high expectations, and because I was different, was often on the outside. If I didn't agree with what others said, if I voiced my own opinion, events would quickly get awkward. Of course, not all of my friends treated me this way, but over time I learnt not to speak in groups, I learnt that my opinion was unimportant, and I would fade into the background. By the time my final year, year 12, came around I was a complete introvert, the opposite of how I was as a child. My emotions became bottled up inside until I ran to my teachers or parents and just cried. During all this however, I became exceedingly proficient at understanding others, their emotions and motives. A number of my 'friends' discovered this and I became their personal psychologist. Having the weight of their problems on my shoulders didn't help my situation. Requiring a release, I turned to writing. I attempted my first novel at the age of fourteen with the aid of my English teacher at the time (unfortunately the project flopped). I came up with the idea for SKY STONE the next year and throughout my high school years, that teacher continued to help me with my writing. I couldn't thank her enough! My emotions would flow out on to the page as I wrote and hence my leading lady, Skyla, was born. How many people can say that they have written a novel (and are half way through a second)? Out of all my high school classmates I don't know of one that has done so. The same goes for my university friends. Without these experiences over my relatively short life, my writing would not have become what it is. All I can say is that I am excited for what is to come! Since entering university I have met and become friends with people who understand and accept me for who I am. They laugh at my strange quirks and I at theirs. My comments don't offend them nor do they disregard my opinions. I know I can look to them in need and they will answer. If those friends are reading this, thank you, from the bottom of my heart. You have helped me regain my feet and now I feel confident enough to tackle the world, as an adult, as a woman, as an adventurer, and as a writer.

A lot of what you have written here reminds me of my own growth experiences.
Although one would never call me naughty and my physical inabilities would stop me from being as rambunctious as you seemed to be in your youth, we have a great deal in common.
Being the "different" kid started when I was very young. I learned compassion and pain because of it. I consider myself very fortunate that the former became a lasting part of my life and the latter is usually brief.
My imaginations rescued me to escapes with music and art.
I wrote and illustrated my first book when I was in the fourth grade. When I became a teenager, I started journaling, and have been at it ever since.
Horses were my first love, so many of my stories were about them. I got hooked into Science Fiction/Fantasy novels like Marion Zimmer Bradley's Darkover series in high school and began my own book then.
I took children's writing courses, but nothing ever published.
I paid for one of my poems to be published in poetry collection, but a strange thing happened about then. Writing became more important and enjoyable once I realized that I didn't need to be published. Writing could be and is fun. If that is all that ever happens, I am happy with that.
Good luck in your writing and life. May it all be as wonderful as you want it to be.

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Scarlett Van Dijk

8/9/2014 05:32:15 am

Wow it looks like we are similar Toni. I also learnt compassion from these experiences and I believe that I am stronger person now because of them. I would not have the same understanding of others emotions and motives. It looks like you have also come out stronger due to your experiences.
I agree with you about being happy just to write. I may be published now but when I began writing I had no intention of publishing. I wrote because I wanted to and because it allowed me to escape reality and find release. I still feel that way.
Thank you for your wonderful comment. Good luck with everything!

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A Writer's Tale

Scarlett Van Dijk

Writer of young adult, fantasy series, the Sky Stone series, poetry and short stories.I hope to update this blog weekly with tips for writers and some personal stories. There will also be guest posts from fellow writers. Stay tuned!